A good transition-state analog:
A) binds covalently to the enzyme.
B) binds to the enzyme more tightly than the substrate.
C) binds very weakly to the enzyme.
D) is too unstable to isolate.
E) must be almost identical to the substrate.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A good transition-state analog should bind to the enzyme more tightly than the substrate in order to effectively mimic the transition state and inhibit the enzyme's activity. Covalent binding (A) may not accurately mimic the transition state and can also permanently inactivate the enzyme. Weak binding (C) would not effectively inhibit the enzyme. Being too unstable to isolate (D) would make the analog ineffective for use. While being almost identical to the substrate (E) is important for specificity, the most critical aspect for a good transition-state analog is tight binding.

A Good Transition-State Analog